While you may not realize it, you already have a morning and nighttime ritual that you do on a daily basis. Do you shower? Brush your teeth? Watch TV? More than likely, you answered yes to all of these things. But what about approaching your morning and nightly rituals more mindfully? You can do this by consciously making a decision to add a few new rituals to your daily routine, and even replace some current rituals with healthier alternatives.

Mindfully cultivating a morning and nighttime ritual can be a great way to welcome lasting healthy habits into your life, while starting and ending your days on the right note. Is there a self-care act that you wish you did, but can’t seem to make the time for? This may be something you want to mindfully add into your morning or evening routine. Whether it be taking a bubble bath instead of a shower, going to bed with a book in hand instead of your cellphone, drinking tea instead of coffee and so on. There is no wrong way to do this, except to be mindful of what habits you would like to welcome into your life, and which ones you may want to replace for a healthier you. By approaching your daily routines more mindfully, you will be able to have control over your days and health.

One thing about having a morning and nighttime routine is that since you do it around the same time and usually from the same location each day, it makes it easier to stick to, compared to other habits. You may want to focus on practicing mindfulness with one routine to start – whether that be your morning or nighttime routine. If you are a morning person, start with that routine, and if you are more of a night owl, then hone in on your evening routine first. There is no wrong way to do it, so approach this in a way that makes sense to you and it will lead you to success.

Now for the fun part. What are some rituals you would like to include in your mindful routine(s)? You may want to jot down the first ideas that pop into your head, and pick 1-3 favorites from there to begin.

Here are some mindful ritual ideas for inspiration:

•Meditating
•Having a daily mantra
•Setting your intentions for the day
•Using tarot cards for clarity and inspiration
•Journaling
•Reading
•Having a cup of warm, lemon water
•Doing a sequence of sun salutations or yoga poses
•Morning/nighttime tea or elixir
•Taking an Epsom salt or essential oil bath
•Listening to a podcast
•Playing upbeat or relaxing music
•Practicing breath work

To stick to your rituals, be consistent and make sure to make time for them each day, even if that means scheduling them on your calendar in the beginning. Choose a ritual that can be done whether you are at home, or even traveling. Mindful rituals don’t have to take up a lot of your day or time. They should be something that you look forward to doing. You may want to even look at them as a reward to yourself or an act of self-love. Remember, we make time for those things that are important to us, and you deserve to make yourself a priority because you and your well-being are important.

Britt Martin is the founder of Fitbrittnutrition, a Holistic Nutrition Consulting company based in LA. She is a Holistic Nutritionist and Certified Yoga Teacher who is passionate about teaching her clients and community how to nourish their bodies and live more holistic lifestyles. She considers herself a health-foodie who aside from holistic nutrition and yoga, loves hiking, cooking, her dog-child Logan, and traveling as much as possible. Follow her on Instagram: @fitbrittnutrition